brilliant ! also if you compare Nijushiho with uechi ryu basic combinations (like the hiji uke part) the beauty of Nijushiho reveals it self more and more. It is my favorit Kata and i love to see it performed by Tatsuja Naka. Like Water!
@Obsidian1392 No problem go to kissakikaiDOTcom for distance-learning, or kissakikaratreDOTcom for more information. Send us your email address for free newsletters. Best wishes
I am sure that there were once realistic bunkai for many of our katas but it had to be lost somewhere between Okinawa and Mainland Japan. I wonder if even Funakoshi ever really knew useful bunkai.....those who came after him certainly did not.
Yes yes, but if what you say in the first movements of the kata is true, what you say is the real meaning of the kata, then why extending your arms at a lower level than the real one? why do the kata so different than the real movements?
First, if you saw the whole DVD you'd see a number of different bunkai, some with the arms exactly as the Kata shows. The small clip on Youtube only covers a fraction of the content.
Second, early Kata especially are like shorthand - they do NOT show exactly the waza, but hint at it to those who know, as the waza was frequently kept secret by the master.
If the moves were always as shown there would be no 'ura' only 'omote'
You don't seem to have understood either the nature of Kata, or my original remarks that the waza denote more than one application. Plus Kata are like Pitmans Shorthand, they stand for, or suggest, reminders of techniques - they do not, nor were ever meant to - show exactly the technique. If they did, then where would be the secrecy demanded by many of the Okinawa masters?
In addition @25500, you have to remember that the Shotokan version of this kata is not the only one. It also exists in many other styles, sometimes by the same name but also as Niseishi. Each school has different ways of performing it. The shotokan version is almost certainly not the original version and thus, the movements in the kata were modified, possibly simply for aesthetic reasons and not practical ones. So, don't get so hung up on a hand being above or below another one.
@25500 The kata is a catalog or moving text to help the student remember self defense techniques. It is not a dance to help you look pretty or impress yourself.
Kata techniques cannot be used in a practical sense if you are in a long basic shotokan stance, and must be modified in order to make it street effective. If you doubt this, go pick a fight and stand in a back stance and see what happens.
I have been involved in Karate for over twenty years and your demonstrations of bunkai are the most sensible and effective I have seen. This is the missing element of my training that is now making my Karate most fulfilling... Thank you Vince for posting these samples!!
Hi Andy Good question. The answer is that most 'handed down' bunkai are useless! Designed to fit sports karatre, not original defensive combat karate. My bunkai is tested against reality and the 'Rules of Combat' and much is the same as taught in the Law Enforcement programs, where it has to work and work well. - Vince
Hi Vince, I'm Josh Ayres - age: 15 ( Brown Belt ) and I train with Don at Kissaki-Kai. I'd just like to say how excellent Don has been over all the 3 years I've been at Kissaki-Kai, I'd just like to give my praise to Don, as he's been a fantastic role model and inspiration to me, and has helped me get out of some difficult situations at school! =) Anyway, sorry to waffle on. Many thanks Josh =)
Anybody is free to learn how to defend themselves and to do these techniques well takes a lot of training - it would be easier to misuse a knife or gun! - Vince Morris
Somehow, when training with the JKA in Japan, the first technique in nijushi was done moving backwards which negates this bunkai. How about a wrist grab with the right hand, sliding back, upsetting the opponents balance and an arm bar to the floor with the left hand?
The first move actually throws the arms up as you move backwards and - yes - your suggestion is exactly correct for one of the bunkai, the value of good waza is that it works for more tha none attack situation. Kata are not blueprints, but aids to memory, as I'm sure you know. Thanks for such a thoughtful response.
brilliant ! also if you compare Nijushiho with uechi ryu basic combinations (like the hiji uke part) the beauty of Nijushiho reveals it self more and more. It is my favorit Kata and i love to see it performed by Tatsuja Naka. Like Water!
SignorFOX 1 year ago
I would really love to train with you but I fear you're too far... do you have a website?
Obsidian1392 1 year ago
@Obsidian1392 No problem go to kissakikaiDOTcom for distance-learning, or kissakikaratreDOTcom for more information. Send us your email address for free newsletters. Best wishes
kissakikai 1 year ago
@kissakikai Your an awesome martial artist and Instructor
Dharma73 1 year ago
Hi - we have a distance-learning website - kissakikai.(prefx - usual 3 ws ends with a dotcom)
kissakikai 1 year ago
I am sure that there were once realistic bunkai for many of our katas but it had to be lost somewhere between Okinawa and Mainland Japan. I wonder if even Funakoshi ever really knew useful bunkai.....those who came after him certainly did not.
Ronin6575 1 year ago
I love this block. It is very effective in real life.
Ultima1488 1 year ago
Yes yes, but if what you say in the first movements of the kata is true, what you say is the real meaning of the kata, then why extending your arms at a lower level than the real one? why do the kata so different than the real movements?
25500 2 years ago
Hi
Thanks for the question
First, if you saw the whole DVD you'd see a number of different bunkai, some with the arms exactly as the Kata shows. The small clip on Youtube only covers a fraction of the content.
Second, early Kata especially are like shorthand - they do NOT show exactly the waza, but hint at it to those who know, as the waza was frequently kept secret by the master.
If the moves were always as shown there would be no 'ura' only 'omote'
My regards ~ Vince Morris
kissakikai 2 years ago
You don't seem to have understood either the nature of Kata, or my original remarks that the waza denote more than one application. Plus Kata are like Pitmans Shorthand, they stand for, or suggest, reminders of techniques - they do not, nor were ever meant to - show exactly the technique. If they did, then where would be the secrecy demanded by many of the Okinawa masters?
kissakikai 2 years ago
In addition @25500, you have to remember that the Shotokan version of this kata is not the only one. It also exists in many other styles, sometimes by the same name but also as Niseishi. Each school has different ways of performing it. The shotokan version is almost certainly not the original version and thus, the movements in the kata were modified, possibly simply for aesthetic reasons and not practical ones. So, don't get so hung up on a hand being above or below another one.
bertthepickle 2 years ago
@25500 The kata is a catalog or moving text to help the student remember self defense techniques. It is not a dance to help you look pretty or impress yourself.
Kata techniques cannot be used in a practical sense if you are in a long basic shotokan stance, and must be modified in order to make it street effective. If you doubt this, go pick a fight and stand in a back stance and see what happens.
Ronin6575 1 year ago
Hi Vince
I have been involved in Karate for over twenty years and your demonstrations of bunkai are the most sensible and effective I have seen. This is the missing element of my training that is now making my Karate most fulfilling... Thank you Vince for posting these samples!!
ArashikageNinjaClan 2 years ago
Sensei Morris - are these bunkai that you have created yourself, or are they "handed down", as it were ?
Respectfully,
Andy (4th Dan Wirral Shotokan)
karatefella 2 years ago
Hi Andy Good question. The answer is that most 'handed down' bunkai are useless! Designed to fit sports karatre, not original defensive combat karate. My bunkai is tested against reality and the 'Rules of Combat' and much is the same as taught in the Law Enforcement programs, where it has to work and work well. - Vince
kissakikai 2 years ago
Hi Vince, I'm Josh Ayres - age: 15 ( Brown Belt ) and I train with Don at Kissaki-Kai. I'd just like to say how excellent Don has been over all the 3 years I've been at Kissaki-Kai, I'd just like to give my praise to Don, as he's been a fantastic role model and inspiration to me, and has helped me get out of some difficult situations at school! =) Anyway, sorry to waffle on. Many thanks Josh =)
jjsam11 2 years ago
cool but he shouldn't show that technique on the media like this. That may be misused. Martial art should only be used for self-defense.
nalisi 2 years ago
Anybody is free to learn how to defend themselves and to do these techniques well takes a lot of training - it would be easier to misuse a knife or gun! - Vince Morris
kissakikai 2 years ago
Karate is serious science. good demo.
NonEvernoThing 2 years ago
This works very well in a street fight
Ultima1488 2 years ago
excellent explanation.OOSU
EASEDIGEST 3 years ago 2
Somehow, when training with the JKA in Japan, the first technique in nijushi was done moving backwards which negates this bunkai. How about a wrist grab with the right hand, sliding back, upsetting the opponents balance and an arm bar to the floor with the left hand?
IEKUKATAKA 3 years ago 3
The first move actually throws the arms up as you move backwards and - yes - your suggestion is exactly correct for one of the bunkai, the value of good waza is that it works for more tha none attack situation. Kata are not blueprints, but aids to memory, as I'm sure you know. Thanks for such a thoughtful response.
Vince Morris
kissakikai 3 years ago
All karate is like that. It's just a matter of the practitioner seeking the right teacher willing to teach this info. This is Koryu.
Koryuhoka 3 years ago 3
Now THAT!!! Is some good Karate. Well done. Respex.
DaiBoxer 3 years ago 3
Awesome
seni1975 3 years ago 2
very cool
snakesablackbelt 3 years ago 2